City
Rooftop of the World — Tibet's sacred spiritual capital
At the heart of Lhasa stands the Jokhang Temple, Tibet's most sacred shrine, constantly circled by devout pilgrims spinning prayer wheels and prostrating on the stone pavement of the Barkhor circuit. Beyond the Potala and Jokhang, the Sera and Drepung monasteries — once home to thousands of monks — are among the world's most important Buddhist institutions. The city occupies the Lhasa River valley ringed by mountains above 4,000 metres, and the thin air and brilliant high-altitude sunlight create an otherworldly quality of light and atmosphere.
Potala Palace (book tickets well in advance)
Jokhang Temple and Barkhor circuit walk
Sera Monastery monk debate (3pm daily)
Drepung Monastery complex
Namtso Lake day trip (190 km north)
Norbulingka Summer Palace gardens
High-altitude semi-arid climate. Summers warm (avg 18°C in July), dry, sunny with afternoon thunderstorms. Winters very cold (avg -2°C in January) with clear skies. UV radiation is intense year-round. Oxygen levels are roughly 30% lower than at sea level.
Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA) is 65 km from city with domestic connections. All foreign visitors require a Tibet Travel Permit (in addition to a Chinese visa) — obtainable only through registered tour operators. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway (Lhasa–Xining ~20 hrs; through Qinghai) is one of the world's great train journeys at avg 4,000 metres elevation.
Tibet Travel Permit is mandatory — plan at least 10–15 days ahead to arrange through an operator
Acclimatize for 2–3 days in Lhasa before major physical activities — altitude sickness at 3,650m is real
Carry altitude medication (Diamox/acetazolamide) — consult a doctor before your trip
Photography inside the Potala Palace is not permitted; respectful photography is welcome at Barkhor
Dress conservatively at all religious sites — cover shoulders and knees
Yak butter tea (po cha) is an acquired taste; try tsampa barley dishes for authentic Tibetan food
Best Time to Visit
May–October for best weather and road accessibility; peak season July–August; winter very cold but dry and clear
Timezone
Asia/Shanghai
Currency
CNY
Language
Tibetan, Mandarin
8 packages available
from
$3,010
Journey from Chengdu to Lhasa
from
$1,078
Lhasa
from
$3,049
Nyingchi to Lhasa
from
$1,269
Lhasa